Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe said Japan will consider economic sanctions against North Korea after the communist country fired several missiles into the Sea of Japan.

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe listens to questions during a news conference at Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's official residence in Tokyo July 5, 2006, after North Korea launched missiles. [Reuters]

"We will take severe measures," Abe said at a press conference in Tokyo. "The international community should strictly condemn the North Korean missile launches."

Japan will ask the United Nations Security Council to consider "proper measures" against North Korea, Abe said.

North Korea fired at least five missiles early this morning, the White House said. The U.S., China, Japan and South Korea have told North Korea that testing a long-range missile may harm the six-nation talks on persuading the country to end its nuclear weapons program.